The steps to change your Facebook profile picture

Open Facebook and click your profile picture in the top left corner (on desktop) or tap the menu icon and select your name (on mobile). This takes you to your profile. Look for your current profile picture — it appears as a circle in the top left of your cover photo. Click or tap directly on that circle, and a menu will appear with options including "Upload photo" and "Choose from photos".

If you want to upload a new image from your device, select "Upload photo" and browse to find the file. Facebook accepts JPG, PNG, GIF, and BMP files. If you want to use a photo you've already posted on Facebook, select "Choose from photos" to browse your photo albums and past posts. Once you've selected your image, Facebook will let you crop and position it before you confirm the change.

Your new profile picture appears immediately on your profile and in your comments, posts, and messages. Other people see the change right away too. You can change your profile picture as often as you want — there's no limit on how many times you do this.

Key Takeaways

  • Click or tap your current profile picture from your profile page to open the menu for changing it.
  • You can upload a new photo from your device or select one you've already posted on Facebook.
  • Facebook accepts JPG, PNG, GIF, and BMP image files.
  • Your new profile picture shows up immediately across your profile, comments, and messages.
  • You can change your profile picture as many times as you want with no restrictions.

Uploading a photo from your computer or phone

When you select "Upload photo," Facebook opens a file browser. On a computer, navigate to the folder where your image is saved and double-click the file. On a phone or tablet, the camera roll or photo library opens automatically, and you tap the image you want to use.

After you select the image, Facebook shows you a preview with cropping tools. You can drag the image around to position it, and use the zoom slider to make it larger or smaller within the circle. The profile picture frame is always circular, so Facebook will crop whatever you upload into that shape. Position your image so the part you want to see is centered in the circle, then tap or click "Save" to confirm.

Using a photo you've already posted on Facebook

If you choose "Choose from photos," Facebook shows your photo albums and recent posts. You can scroll through your "Profile Pictures" album, which stores all your past profile pictures, or browse other albums you've created. You can also search for photos by date or scroll through your timeline to find a specific image.

Once you find the photo you want, click or tap it. Facebook shows you the same cropping preview, and you can adjust how it appears in the circular frame. This option is useful if you want to go back to an old profile picture or use a photo that's already on your account without uploading it again.

Making your profile picture private or public

By default, your profile picture is visible to everyone on Facebook, including people who aren't your friends. If you want to change who can see it, click the small privacy icon that appears in the bottom right corner of your profile picture (it looks like a globe or a lock). A menu appears with options: "Public" (everyone can see it), "Friends" (only your friends can see it), or "Only me" (only you can see it).

This privacy setting is separate from your profile picture itself — changing the privacy level doesn't change the image, only who can view it. You can adjust this setting anytime without uploading a new picture.

Removing or hiding your profile picture

If you want to remove your profile picture entirely, click or tap the circle with your image and select "Remove photo." Facebook will replace it with a blank circle with a generic icon. You can add a new profile picture anytime by following the same steps.

If you want to keep a profile picture but hide it from certain people, use the privacy settings described above instead of removing it. Setting it to "Only me" means only you can see it on your profile, though people who've already seen it may remember it.

Troubleshooting common problems

If your new profile picture doesn't appear after you save it, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening Facebook. Sometimes the change takes a few seconds to show up across all devices. If you're on mobile, make sure you're using the official Facebook app or a fully updated mobile browser.

If Facebook rejects your image file, check that it's in one of the supported formats (JPG, PNG, GIF, or BMP) and that the file size isn't too large. Facebook typically accepts files up to 4 MB. If the image is too large, you can compress it using free online tools or your device's built-in photo editor before uploading.

If you can't find the option to change your profile picture, make sure you're on your own profile, not someone else's. You can only change your own profile picture — you cannot change another person's picture even if you're friends with them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same photo as my profile picture and cover photo?

Yes, you can use the same image for both. They're stored separately on Facebook, so uploading one doesn't automatically set it as the other. You'll need to upload or select the image twice if you want it in both places.

What happens to my old profile pictures after I change it?

Facebook saves all your past profile pictures in your "Profile Pictures" album. You can view them anytime by going to your profile and looking at your albums. Old profile pictures stay there unless you delete them individually.

Can my profile picture show up in search results or on Google?

Your profile picture may appear in Facebook search results if your privacy settings allow it. To limit who can find you, adjust your profile privacy settings in Facebook Settings under "Privacy." Search engines like Google typically don't index your profile picture unless your entire profile is set to public.

Does changing my profile picture notify my friends?

Facebook doesn't send a specific notification when you change your profile picture, but the change may appear in your friends' news feeds if they follow your activity. The notification depends on your privacy settings and Facebook's algorithm.